Giving dead lightbulbs a new lease on life

Everything (well, one thing anyway) old is new again, and vice versa with an oil lamp made from a reclaimed incandescent light globe. The work of industrial designer Sergio Silva, the Oyule lamps are his attempt to “send the bulbs back in time”, at a period when the incandescent bulb is itself being replaced by newer lighting technology.

The bulbs are filled with non-flammable paraffin oil, while a fiberglass wick replaces the filament. To ensure the bulbs don’t pose too much of a fire hazard, Silva has placed a spherical neodymium magnet inside the bulb that corresponds to a steel component embedded in the Oyule’s acrylic base. This ensures the bulbs stay upright.

Such industrial design irony doesn’t come cheap, however. Each hand-made set of two Oyule lamps will be sold in a limited edition of 66 sets for US$650 – including shipping – and will be sent with a certificate of authenticity, numbered and signed by Sergio Silva.

Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (not still functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology continued through a number of university courses and crappy jobs until 2008, when his interests found a home at Gizmag. All articles by Darren Quick

Grrrr. It really chaps me when I see a designer ripping off something I have seen people making on other DIY websites, workshops and small craft fairs for years before this over priced piece of "art" hit the market.

I guess it goes to show that Art is not only in the eye of the beholder but in the name attached to it